Something Better Than Forever
by Skydancinghobbit
Chapter 23: Wrath
and Ruin
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I love him. Not because he's beautiful or because he's rich! I'd much rather he weren't either one. It would even out the gap between us just a little bit, because he'd still be the most loving and unselfish and brilliant and decent person I've ever met. Of course I love him. How hard is that to understand?
Bella Swan, Eclipse, Chapter 4, p.110
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Bella swallowed her fears, reaching up almost on instinct her fingers suddenly came into contact with the hearts jewel that rested around her neck, at once any misgivings vanished into the very air, her spine straightened and her eyes grew sharp. So both young men had come to air their grievances? One on one would have been bearable but yet they did not even have the good manners to wait until she was over her jet lag to attack her.
Very well then, squaring her shoulders she rose from the bed fixing the pair before her with no kind eye as she marched from the room brushing past the others with a determined air that, even following her emotional breakdown on the ride here, made Jasper smile, he shot her a quick thumbs up as she passed him. Her head was clear and her temper on its toes.
Emmett went so far as to open the back door for her as she passed with nothing more than a nod of thanks. Her time in Italy had taught her well, while among the Volturi she was the lesser of the family, always minding her words and gesture's least they cause trouble for others that watched over her, here she was the better, mortal or not it made no difference.
"Well by your stance as well as the appalling lack of clothing I take it this is not a social visit Jake, say what you came to, and then go home, I have been on a plane for 14 hours, haven't eaten and am now getting wet on top of everything so you will I trust pardon my less than welcoming personality"
Her own words fell harsh and icy to touch her ears, causing Edward to flinch looking at her with wide eyes as if seeing her for the first time. Jacob on the other hand had not batted an eyelash. He only continued to stare at her with cold detachment gazing at her necklace for a long moment before he allowed the words to tumble forth.
"So it’s true, Bella Swan sold out"
There was a myriad of emotion behind his statement; hurt, betrayal, and if her ear did not deceive her, disgust; yet a smirk played about his lips as if he expected her to cry, flinch, or whimper. She merely ran a hand through her dripping hair and flicked it out of her eyes before speaking.
"No Jacob, I finally found the one who I was meant to be with"
Suddenly his wrath broke a tree, ripping from the ground with a moaning and creaking of wood as he tossed it to the lawn. Apparently this proved to be insufficient to vent the strong emotions and he began to rip it to shreds, brawny figure and muscles rippling in silence as a soft growl escaped his lips. Not rather unlike Jane when frustrated. Breathing heavily he finally ground out.
"Damnit Bella, first this bloodsucker then another. You are here one day, tearing off in the night to some college without a word, no letter or call was I NOT good enough for you?"
Bella allowed him to rant venting the weeks of simmering fury without so much as a comment; it was nearly 10 minutes later when he finished allowing her to speak.
"We, none of us, can choose who we are mated with Jake. He may not be mortal but he is, in every sense, the best man I have ever known. I would wish him poorer perhaps if only for the fact it might make our places a bit easier to accept yet it would not truly be him"
She had meant it to be a gentle explanation, a plea for tolerance, yet for all his reaction she might just as well have shouted profanity. He began snarling and they in turn gave way to shaking of the most dangerous sort accompanied by murmurs “The bloodsuckers... Always the bloodsuckers" she had little time enough to think about getting out of the way when he leapt at her a blur in motion as man gave way to beast. Bella closed her eyes resolved as far as she could for the ending when a blood curtailing yelp sounded. Opening her eyes she was amazed to discover two forms locked in combat.
Felix had Jacob by the neck and was methodically choking him, pale hands drawing ever tighter around the struggling mass of brown fur. As the movements began to slow a thrill of horror passed through her system as she ran forward.
"Felix stop!"
At once he was released, canine form dropping to the ground with a resounding thud that gave the impression of a mighty tree meeting its end. Yet he breathed; once, twice, and again his sides rose, as the peace of sleep came on him the wolf could not linger, and the man took his place. A whisper of movement told her before her mind could register that suddenly Carlisle was there checking him out, black bag ready should his talents be needed.
"Out cold, luckily no harm to him beyond that. Your lucky Felix or else you could very well have started a war here, in which Bella would have suffered greatly"
Numbly, with all her anger now spent Bella felt herself be lifted off her feet and carried back inside. A quick examination proved her to be unhurt, but in a state of minor shock, the effects of which would be gone with dispatch the following morning. A hot bath and soup was all she remembered before sinking into a Jasper induced sleep, her final thought before dreams claimed her was Edward, he had lead Jake on like a hunting quarry for a dog, had watched him get pushed beyond his limits and then made no move to spare her when the intended event took place.
It was his last desperate attempt and it had failed and poor Jake had paid the price.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I love him. Not because he's beautiful or because he's rich! I'd much rather he weren't either one. It would even out the gap between us just a little bit, because he'd still be the most loving and unselfish and brilliant and decent person I've ever met. Of course I love him. How hard is that to understand?
Bella Swan, Eclipse, Chapter 4, p.110
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<,
Bella swallowed her fears, reaching up almost on instinct her fingers suddenly came into contact with the hearts jewel that rested around her neck, at once any misgivings vanished into the very air, her spine straightened and her eyes grew sharp. So both young men had come to air their grievances? One on one would have been bearable but yet they did not even have the good manners to wait until she was over her jet lag to attack her.
Very well then, squaring her shoulders she rose from the bed fixing the pair before her with no kind eye as she marched from the room brushing past the others with a determined air that, even following her emotional breakdown on the ride here, made Jasper smile, he shot her a quick thumbs up as she passed him. Her head was clear and her temper on its toes.
Emmett went so far as to open the back door for her as she passed with nothing more than a nod of thanks. Her time in Italy had taught her well, while among the Volturi she was the lesser of the family, always minding her words and gesture's least they cause trouble for others that watched over her, here she was the better, mortal or not it made no difference.
"Well by your stance as well as the appalling lack of clothing I take it this is not a social visit Jake, say what you came to, and then go home, I have been on a plane for 14 hours, haven't eaten and am now getting wet on top of everything so you will I trust pardon my less than welcoming personality"
Her own words fell harsh and icy to touch her ears, causing Edward to flinch looking at her with wide eyes as if seeing her for the first time. Jacob on the other hand had not batted an eyelash. He only continued to stare at her with cold detachment gazing at her necklace for a long moment before he allowed the words to tumble forth.
"So it’s true, Bella Swan sold out"
There was a myriad of emotion behind his statement; hurt, betrayal, and if her ear did not deceive her, disgust; yet a smirk played about his lips as if he expected her to cry, flinch, or whimper. She merely ran a hand through her dripping hair and flicked it out of her eyes before speaking.
"No Jacob, I finally found the one who I was meant to be with"
Suddenly his wrath broke a tree, ripping from the ground with a moaning and creaking of wood as he tossed it to the lawn. Apparently this proved to be insufficient to vent the strong emotions and he began to rip it to shreds, brawny figure and muscles rippling in silence as a soft growl escaped his lips. Not rather unlike Jane when frustrated. Breathing heavily he finally ground out.
"Damnit Bella, first this bloodsucker then another. You are here one day, tearing off in the night to some college without a word, no letter or call was I NOT good enough for you?"
Bella allowed him to rant venting the weeks of simmering fury without so much as a comment; it was nearly 10 minutes later when he finished allowing her to speak.
"We, none of us, can choose who we are mated with Jake. He may not be mortal but he is, in every sense, the best man I have ever known. I would wish him poorer perhaps if only for the fact it might make our places a bit easier to accept yet it would not truly be him"
She had meant it to be a gentle explanation, a plea for tolerance, yet for all his reaction she might just as well have shouted profanity. He began snarling and they in turn gave way to shaking of the most dangerous sort accompanied by murmurs “The bloodsuckers... Always the bloodsuckers" she had little time enough to think about getting out of the way when he leapt at her a blur in motion as man gave way to beast. Bella closed her eyes resolved as far as she could for the ending when a blood curtailing yelp sounded. Opening her eyes she was amazed to discover two forms locked in combat.
Felix had Jacob by the neck and was methodically choking him, pale hands drawing ever tighter around the struggling mass of brown fur. As the movements began to slow a thrill of horror passed through her system as she ran forward.
"Felix stop!"
At once he was released, canine form dropping to the ground with a resounding thud that gave the impression of a mighty tree meeting its end. Yet he breathed; once, twice, and again his sides rose, as the peace of sleep came on him the wolf could not linger, and the man took his place. A whisper of movement told her before her mind could register that suddenly Carlisle was there checking him out, black bag ready should his talents be needed.
"Out cold, luckily no harm to him beyond that. Your lucky Felix or else you could very well have started a war here, in which Bella would have suffered greatly"
Numbly, with all her anger now spent Bella felt herself be lifted off her feet and carried back inside. A quick examination proved her to be unhurt, but in a state of minor shock, the effects of which would be gone with dispatch the following morning. A hot bath and soup was all she remembered before sinking into a Jasper induced sleep, her final thought before dreams claimed her was Edward, he had lead Jake on like a hunting quarry for a dog, had watched him get pushed beyond his limits and then made no move to spare her when the intended event took place.
It was his last desperate attempt and it had failed and poor Jake had paid the price.